The second special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, has reportedly secured testimony and evidence indicating that an office space for Kim Geon-hee existed within the Yongsan Presidential Office. In response, Kim's defense team expressed regret over what they described as distortions of the facts.
5th, according to legal sources, the special prosecutor team obtained statements from officials of the Presidential Security Service during their investigation into allegations surrounding the relocation of the presidential residence. These officials indicated that an office for the First Lady was established at the Yongsan Presidential Office.
The security service officials reportedly stated during the investigation that Kim's office occupied half of a floor in the Yongsan Presidential Office and that a budget of 1 billion won was allocated for the installation of bulletproof facilities, including glass windows. The special prosecutor team also confirmed that the establishment of Kim's office occurred early in the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
In response, Kim's defense team issued a statement claiming that reports suggesting the existence of an office for Kim at the Yongsan Presidential Office since the early days of the Yoon administration are false.
They added, "While there was an office for the First Lady in the past at the Blue House, there was no such office during the early days of the Yoon administration."
They further noted, "It is true that a second office and a small office for the First Lady were established in the vacant space of the Presidential Office in the second half of 2024," but urged the special prosecutor to cease what they termed the production of false reports and distortions of facts, asserting that the special prosecutor should already be aware of these details.
Previously, former President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to abolish the second office responsible for the ceremonial duties of the presidential spouse during his campaign for the 2021 presidential election. Kim also apologized in December of that year regarding allegations of false credentials, stating, "Even if my husband becomes president, I will focus solely on my role as a wife."
However, controversies have arisen since then, including instances where private individuals with connections to the former president and first lady boarded the presidential aircraft during overseas trips, as well as Kim's involvement in external schedules and support processes, with former employees of her company, Kobana Contents, being hired to assist in the presidential office and residence team after the second office was abolished.
The security service officials reportedly stated during the investigation that Kim's office occupied half of a floor in the Yongsan Presidential Office and that a budget of 1 billion won was allocated for the installation of bulletproof facilities, including glass windows. The special prosecutor team also confirmed that the establishment of Kim's office occurred early in the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
In response, Kim's defense team issued a statement claiming that reports suggesting the existence of an office for Kim at the Yongsan Presidential Office since the early days of the Yoon administration are false.
They added, "While there was an office for the First Lady in the past at the Blue House, there was no such office during the early days of the Yoon administration."
They further noted, "It is true that a second office and a small office for the First Lady were established in the vacant space of the Presidential Office in the second half of 2024," but urged the special prosecutor to cease what they termed the production of false reports and distortions of facts, asserting that the special prosecutor should already be aware of these details.
Previously, former President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to abolish the second office responsible for the ceremonial duties of the presidential spouse during his campaign for the 2021 presidential election. Kim also apologized in December of that year regarding allegations of false credentials, stating, "Even if my husband becomes president, I will focus solely on my role as a wife."
However, controversies have arisen since then, including instances where private individuals with connections to the former president and first lady boarded the presidential aircraft during overseas trips, as well as Kim's involvement in external schedules and support processes, with former employees of her company, Kobana Contents, being hired to assist in the presidential office and residence team after the second office was abolished.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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